Low cholesterol and mental disorders in children and adolescents with celiac disease.

摘要

TO THE EDITOR: We suggest that low plasma cholesterol levels might be a plausible mechanism involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of mental and behavioral disorders related to ce-liac disease. Celiac disease (CD) is an underdi-agnosed autoimmune disorder that occurs in genetically-susceptible individuals after the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat and some other cereals. The immunologically-based inflammation induces atrophy of the villous structure of the jejunum, leading to malabsorption of variable severity. Early detection of the disease represents a key factor in the prevention of later complications. However, it has now become evident that the clinical presentations of the disease may not only be related to the classic malabsorption syndrome, but also that sub-clinical and nonspecific forms have been found to be increasingly common.